Church

Or we could try self control . . .

~ brandon ~ 1 Comment

Therefore, the treatment for sexual addiction is a form of pseudo-redemptive window dressing in which no one, especially the addict himself, really believes. But what choices does the wife have? One potential “cure” is chemical or surgical castration—no man volunteers, not to mention the wronged wife would be deprived of sex anyway, a sort of cutting off your nose to spite your face. The second choice is to view the addiction as a time-limited condition, accept the man for who he is, and wait until his desires extinguish. Lets stop pathologizing every human behavior, like male libido.

via Every Man Is a Sex Addict – The Daily Beast.

I’ve no idea who Dr. Karasu is.  If we accept his premise, that all men are sex addicts at heart, I think there is a third option for dealing with this.

Throughout history man’s baser instincts have been controlled.  The ability to control these instincts has traditionally been developed through religion.  Religion seeks to teach the man how to control and properly express these physiological needs.  This is a benefit to society, as it promotes healthy families in which the subsequent generation is raised.

Dr. Karasu misses this–or dismisses this, perhaps.  Our options aren’t just castration or waiting it out.  A third option is simple:  confront such behavior as sin and call the sinner to repentance.

As with any other sin, sexual sins can ultimately only be healed by CHrist.  And Christ heals through our repentance.

h/t Hot Air

What is the Evangelical Free Church?

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I get that question a lot.  Many visitors are curious about our movement, our beliefs and practices.  The Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) is a movement of about 1500 autonomous congregations that began in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway & Denmark.  In the 19th century a growing number of Christians saw the state church becoming nothing more than an arm of government.

Though it was illegal, small groups of men and women began meeting in house churches (referred to as free churches).  These groups centered on a few common convictions such as the authority of Scripture and the urgency of missions.  Eventually, these churches received official sanction from the state church.

As Scandinavian immigrants moved to the new world, they brought their free churches with them.  In 1884 the first Free Church in America was founded in Boone, Iowa.  Over the next 65 years, the Free Churches would grow closer together until 1950, when they formally joining together as the Evangelical Free Church of America.  Holding to the same convictions that started the first home groups, the EFCA is devoted to glorifying God by multiplying healthy churches around the world.

For more information on the EFCA, check out efca.org.

These posts come from Ask the Pastor, a weekly column published in the Beecher Herald.

Why should a Christian study doctrine?

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At the link, below, you’ll find N.T. Wright talking about Hell.  It’s a great example of why Christians ought to take seriously the need to know what we believe and why we believe it.  Fr Wright makes the point that Hell, as we conceive it, was a middle ages invention.  Yet, Chrysostom wrote:

This is no trivial subject of inquiry that we propose, but rather it concerns things most urgent, and about which many inquire:  namely, whether hell fire has any end.  For that is has no end Christ indeed declared when he said, “Their fire shall not be quenched, and their worm shall not die.”

Clearly Chrysostom is teaching that Hell is 1) Real, 2) Eternal, 3) Involves some sort of fire (which, I believe, he took as God’s Wrath).  Now, you might ask, “When did this Chrysostom guy live?”  To which, I would respond, “Around 347-407 AD.”

Hmmm.  That doesn’t sound like a middle ages invention to me.

Ur Video: NT Wright on Hell | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders.

Giving and Providence

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In World Magazine we find an brief article on the decrease in giving during our present economic struggles.

Ministries are still completing the final tally of gifts received at the end of 2009, but Calvin Edwards, who leads a philanthropic advisory firm based in Atlanta, Ga., believes donations for many ministries could fall by 10 percent to 15 percent for the year.

via WORLD Magazine | Less to give | Rusty Leonard | Jan 30, 10.

Like many churches, ours is also experiencing slight decreases in regular donations.  Yet, we can testify to God’s providence.  In the midst of all this, we are able to afford a new, long needed ministry facility!  Not by our wisdom, our strength or our sacrificial hearts–but by the unmerited grace of God.

Understanding Suffering

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From Newsweek:

I just got to a point where I couldn’t explain how something like this could happen, if there’s a powerful and loving God in charge of the world. It’s a very old problem, and there are a lot of answers, but I don’t think any of them work.

The suffering in Haiti has reminded us of an age-old question:  If God is loving and all-powerful, why does He allow tragedy and suffering?  Like the article points out, there are myriad ways we answer this question.  I, like Job, don’t have a complete answer, but I do have some questions about how we view God.

In the article quoted above we find a typical description of God–loving and powerful.  That’s all.  But, is that all God is?  Is He only a heavenly Santa supposed to use His power to prevent any form of suffering and pain?  And, if so, then shouldn’t we all be living in some form of Eden, right now?

Perhaps, while God is love, He is also much more.  Perhaps He is also just, righteous, holy, pure, jealous and wrathful.  Perhaps He is also all-knowing, able to see each event as it connects to all other events.  Perhaps, in His perfect knowledge and wisdom, He is able to see good, righteous reasons to allow calamity to occur.  Thus, while He might hate suffering and calamity, He might be inclined to allow it because of the bigger, eternal picture.

Let me give you an example.  Earlier I wrote:

The second is a young girl, dying from cancer.  This little girl didn’t just want prayer she also wanted answers.  I tried my best to answer her questions, and we prayed for her and her family.  Now, this little girl was not healed.  However, something even more amazing happened.  Before cancer claimed her, Christ claimed her.  This little girl accepted Christ, and even asked to be buried with one of the letters I wrote—so she could show it to God!  The peace with which she died, and this request led her parents—non-Christians—to ask their own questions.  Even though they lived two states away (they were in our area for her treatment) we prayed for them and put them in touch with a good church.

A few months later I received a letter from that little girl’s mom.  In it was a picture, which still sits on my desk, and a note.  That note shared how she and her husband came to know Christ, and how they could see God’s mercy.  She understood that her little girl died so that the girl, the mom and the dad could find eternal life.  She believed that it was a part of God’s plan, and though painful, worth it.

While God never promises to tell us what good end He achieved through allowing suffering, we can know He does not allow anything without a good, perfect and pleasing purpose.  The story of that dear little girl is evidence that God does not bring calamity where God does not send grace.

Perhaps God is not 2D after all.

Naming Sin

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But We’re Still Gonna Kill You by Mark Steyn on National Review Online.

Whatever you think of his politics, Steyn’s argument seems to be:  if we cannot name our enemy, then we cannot win.  I think that’s a sound point we can apply to the Christian’s struggle against sin.

We live in an age where sin is an antiquated concept.  We rationalize and justify behaviors that our grandparents would be ashamed of.  We’re more worldly, better educated and able to see how those moral codes of old were arbitrary, and intended to discriminate and oppress.  Therefore, we are free to live as we see fit and no, we don’t really care what you think.

Import that thinking to the Church.  In the Church we still believe in right and wrong, good and evil and things such as sin.  We still believe in God’s judgment and a place called Hell.  Yet, we often fail to name our sin.  We, too, fall victim to the rationalizations of our culture.

Young adult partying all the time?  Well, that’s just how everyone is at their age.  Thirty-something parents foisting their kids off on day-care and schools and after school programs from pre-school on?  Hey, it’s tough to make ends meet today.

A first step toward victory over sin is naming it.  It’s asking God what He calls sin, and applying that standard to my own life.  It’s seeing where my life fails to match up to Christ’s teaching and realizing:  Jesus was nailed to a cross for this.

Bad Economic News

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WORLD Magazine | Todays News, Christian Views.

You probably have heard the discouraging December jobs report:  85,000 jobs lost and 661,000 not even looking for jobs.  The ongoing economic malaise is of concern to me for a few reasons.

Of course there is giving.  Ministry relies upon donors, we don’t sell a product or a service.  With fewer folks working, that means less to donate–which impacts what a ministry can or can’t do.  So, we must be wise and faithful.  Wisdom dictates we focus our limited resources on our core mission–making disciples.  Extras can, and should be shed.  Faith dictates that we trust God to provide for that core mission.  In other words, we don’t stop teaching Sunday School because we’re afraid we can’t heat the building.  We teach and trust God to provide.

The declining economy, while stealing donations from non-profits, also means more people in real need.  Our food pantry and benevolence fund has seen much more use over the past year than in the 6 that preceded it.  Already we’ve spent our budgeted benevolence, and will begin taking benevolence offerings to continue meeting needs.  It’s kind of a catch-22, more people need help but there is less to help them with.  Again, loving people is core mission stuff–so we continue to do so, trusting God to provide.

Additionally, there is the spiritual concern for the flock.  Some don’t know how to handle money problems in a Christian manner.  Some will ask, ‘Why me?’ Others might decide to blame God.  One of a Pastor’s great challenges is to help folks see these times are a purifying opportunity.  As businesses and ministries must shed extras and refocus on core mission–so, too, must Christians.  What an opportunity to realize how much time and money we invest in that which is ultimately fleeting.  What a chance to refocus my whole life upon that which is eternal.

Overall my hope is to set an example of wise faith:  not wasting resources, but also not doubting God’s continued provision.

In the mean time, I’d love for our government to do one thing:  make the US the most attractive place to do business.  Doing so, I believe, will do more to invigorate the economy than any number of stimuli or bailouts.

A tough subject

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

When is it okay to leave a Church?

Leaving a Church is not a simple decision.  Scripture is clear about the importance of unity, and the need to bear with one another.  That said, there are times when we are wise to leave.

Most obviously, one might leave a congregation that ceases teaching Scripture.  Once a church or denomination decides Scripture is not the primary foundation for life and doctrine, they are not following Christ.  At that point the membership should try to correct the situation.  If that fails, they should move to a Biblically sound church.

Less obvious are issues of style and method.  As communities change there is a need for adapting forms while maintaining truth.  No one argues church today is a bit different than it was 100 years ago.  Continued effectiveness in a changing culture requires adaptation.

When this happens, not everyone can or needs to adapt.  One’s gifts and skills may not mesh well with the changing community.  In such cases those feeling left behind should forthrightly discuss the situation with their Pastor and leaders.  Together they should examine the motivations for leaving.  Leaving over simple style differences seems petty, to me.  Certainly the unity of the Spirit demands we put others needs ahead of our own, including areas of style.  But when leaving is strategic–an opportunity to better use gifts and abilities, for example–I think moving on may be good.

In any case, leaving a church should never be done in haste or anger.  All such decisions should be bathed in prayer, filtered through Scripture and accompanied by open, honest discussion with the leadership of the congregation.  Having done so, we can rejoice as God arranges and rearranges His Church to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Story of Channel Locks

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I’m a big fan of nicknames.  All three of my kids and my wife have them and, thanks to classmates at Officer Training School and the Chaplain Service Institute, I’ve even got a couple myself.  Each of these nicknames has a story behind it.  From odd behavior to embarrassing moments, each nickname conjures smiles upon the faces of those who know and curiosity in the minds of those who don’t.  So, it shouldn’t surprise you that I occasionally bestow nicknames on friends and coworkers. Continue reading →